How do I get my qualification recognised in Italy?

Have you obtained an academic or professional qualification abroad and you don’t know how to use it in Italy? Are you moving to Italy for work and not sure if your qualification will be recognised?

Navigating the process of getting your foreign qualification recognised in Italy can be complex and involve intricate legal procedures. If you have obtaine your academic or professional qualification abroad, either in the EU or outside the EU, and are unsure of its applicability within Italy

As a specialised law firm in Italian legal matters, we can help you navigate the intricacies of the Italian law system.

If you are planning to relocate to Italy and you have an academic qualification, like a degree or a doctorate, or a professional qualification in professional fields such as healthcare, law or teaching, then it is necessary to follow a specific procedure in order to obtain recognition of this qualification in Italy for study or work purposes. The process of applying for recognition of professional qualification or recognition of educational qualifications in Italy differ:

If you are looking for recognition of a university degree, the application must be filed to an Italian University. The competent authority may condition the recognition of educational or professional qualifications to the completion of compensatory measures when there are substantial differences between the applicant’s education and Italian education, as well as between the professional activities carried out in the country of origin and those required for the same profession in Italy, which cannot be compensated for by professional experience and/or additional training. When required to undergo compensatory measures, the applicant has to be given the possibility to choose between an adaptation internship of up to three years or an aptitude test.

Before requiring the completion of compensatory measures, the competent authority  must verify if the knowledge, skills, and competences formally validated by a competent body, acquired by the applicant during their professional experience, are able to cover, in whole or in part, the substantial differences identified by the competent authority.

Otherwise, if you are seeking for recognition of a professional title, the application must be filed at the Ministry that is considered competent on the basis of the subject involved. For example, if you are a doctor or a nurse or a dentist and you need to receive the recognition of your title in Italy, the competent Ministry it the Ministry of health. If you are a teacher, your application needs to be filed with the Ministry of education.

Each authority requires specific procedures to follow for the filing of the application, but here we are going to tell you how to get started.

The process for getting your educational qualification recognized in Italy depends on whether you want to use it for further studies (enrolling in a degree program) or for professional purposes (working in a regulated profession). In general terms, here’s a breakdown for both scenarios

• Find an equivalent Italian degree: The first step is to identify an Italian university degree program that is similar in level and content to your qualification. You can find a list of Italian universities here: https://www.mur.gov.it/it/aree-tematiche/universita/le-universita/universita-statali
• Contact the university: Once you find a relevant program, contact the university’s Student Secretariat (“Segreteria Studenti”) directly. They will provide specific instructions and application forms for the recognition process.
• Ensure you have the correct documentation in the jurisdiction of origin at hand: it is necessary to submit to the competent Italian authorities comprehensive documentation that is required for obtaining recognition and to avoid submitting incorrect, irrelevant and/or unnecessary attestations, documents and/or certificates.
• Fill in the request for recognition and forward it to the relevant authorities. During the course of the administrative procedure it may be necessary to interact with the Italian public administration and other Italian and foreign bodies.

Please note that some documents may need to be legalised or formally translated before submission, for which you can obtain assistance from our team of specialized professionals, who will help you to avoid errors and unnecessary and expensive litigation.

Although similar, the process to get your professional qualification accepted in Italy varies slightly:

1. Verify regulation: For working in a specific profession, you’ll need to check if the profession is regulated in Italy. Regulatory bodies might have specific requirements for recognizing foreign qualifications. CIMEA (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equality) can provide general information on recognition of qualifications in Italy on this website: https://www.cimea.it/en/recognition-of-qualifications.aspx. The specific professional association or government ministry that regulates your desired profession in Italy will handle the recognition process.
2. Contact the regulatory body: Identify the relevant professional association or government ministry that oversees your profession in Italy. They will have information on the recognition process for foreign qualifications.
3. Documents required: The documents required will vary depending on the profession. Still, they might include similar documents as for further studies, along with additional work experience certificates if relevant. Similar to academic recognition, you might need your documents translated and legalised.

The procress of getting your qualifications recognised in Italy can be quite lenghty and burocratic, ranging from one to four months, and simply applying does not guarantee an positive outcome. You may find yourself in a situation where the recognition has been delayed or denied for some of these reasons:

• failure by the administration to issue a decision on the application;
• rejection of the application and/or recognition subject to an illegitimate compensatory measure;
• impossibility of using the title for work purposes or in public recruitment competitions, while the recognition procedure is pending before the public administration.

Where the Administration exceeds these deadlines, the applicant may file an appeal with the competent TAR (Regional Administrative Tribunal) to force the administration to take a decision. Our lawyers have gained extensive experience in bringing court proceedings that may become necessary before the administrative courts or at the labor courts in these events.

Remember, this is a general overview, and the specific process might vary depending on your situation. It’s recommended to directly contact the relevant university or professional body for the latest information and application procedures. And do not heistate ti contact us if you require expert legal help in this matter, we will be happy to help.

How much does it cost to get my qualification recognised in Italy?

The cost can vary depending on the complexity of your case, document translation fees, and potential legal assistance. However, the application fees for recognition itself are usually quite reasonable.

Do I need to have my degree translated into Italian?

In most cases, yes. You’ll need an official translation by a certified translator in Italy.

What happens if my qualification is not exactly equivalent to an Italian one?

You may be required to undergo “compensatory measures” like additional coursework or an aptitude test.

Can I use my recognised qualification to teach in Italy?

This depends on the specific teaching position and might require additional certifications.

What if I want to pursue a postgraduate degree in Italy?

Recognition of your undergraduate degree might be necessary for admission to a postgraduate program.

How long will it take to get my professional qualification recognised?

The processing time can vary depending on the profession and the workload of the relevant authority. It’s best to check with the specific body for an estimate.

Do I need to take an exam to have my professional qualification recognised?

Not always, but some professions might require an aptitude test as part of the recognition process.

Will my work experience from abroad be considered when applying for recognition?

Yes, relevant work experience can be a factor in some cases, particularly when determining if compensatory measures are necessary.

Our team of immigration lawyers will be able to guide you through the qualification registration process, collecting the relevant documentation, informing you if you need any documents to be apostilled, legalised and/or translated.

Contact us today and get the legal help you need to move to Italy. Send us an email at info@theitalianlawyer.com and book your initial FREE ASSESSMENT CALL, during which we will provide you with all the details to proceed with your divorce registration.